Czech energy giant backs out of Kosovo tender

The Czech energy giant ČEZ, together with US partner AES, has backed out of tender for building a coal-fired power plant in Kosovo. ČEZ issued the statement at a press conference on Friday, citing delays in the tender as well as changes in construction parameters as the reasons for the decision. The tender is on the building of a new plant, while expanding the coal mine in Sibovc, Kosovo. The tender is reportedly worth an estimated 3.5 billion euros. ČEZ and AES applied for the tender in 2006, joined by Italy’s Enel Group and the Greek firm Sencap from the Public Power concern. Last year, Kosovo decided to call a new tender on the project, in which the final design was changed - halving the previous capacity of the proposed plant to 1000 megawatts.